Sensoji Temple

Last Sunday I ventured out on my own to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa- it's the largest and most famous temple in Tokyo. To get there, you first walk through Nakamise- a long shopping street with vendors of all sorts selling souveniers, kimonos, food, and weird touristy items. I tried to just walk straight through telling myself I could browse on the way back. Although I did stop and buy a hot, fresh off the griddle, rice cake basted in soy sauce for 50 cents. It was awesome.

Upon entering through the main gate, there is a whole grounds area with different buildings: the 5-story pagoda which is an architectural beauty, the main hall which unfortunately the outside was having work done, the Sensoji shrine, the gardens and other small shrines. It was a calming time I had to myself, and I felt holy in a good way. I was able to see the monks praying and to get some insight into the religious aspect of the Japanese culture, though they aren't too religious. All sorts of people come and stop by, wafting in the incense (the whole area smelled amazing of incense) for good luck, and washing their hands and drinking the holy water.

After observing for a few minutes, I decided to splash my hands with the holy water too, though no drinking for me haha. I got another fortune as it is the thing to do, and it was another good one. It's kind of funny how the Japanese doesn't quite translate literally word-for-word into the English version so the fortunes are kind of disjointed and you have to make sense of it. But they're more wise, proverbial ones. And on the way back I took my time as I had nowhere to be and the whole afternoon to myself, I perused the shops and vendors on Nakamise street.Check out my gallery for all the pictures as I took quite a few.

Inspired...

On Friday we only had one casting in the late afternoon so I made use of my day and walked over to Yebisu Garden Place, about a 20 min walk from the apartment. There's shops, cafes, and a garden area I didn't even make it to (gonna have to make a 2nd trip). But what I did see, a priority on my list, was the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. I bought tickets to see the two exhibits they have going on, for a student price (one of the only perks of going to Miami-Dade), but the experience itself was priceless. It was so refreshing to have the alone time to get in touch with my thoughts, be meditative, deliberative, and completely conscious of my surroundings.

The first exhibit had photographs by a Japanese photographer who unfortunately had just passed away in February. His were mostly landscape-type photos of New York City and Japan in the 1970s as well as some recent works from Japan. Some of them were very interesting with the effects and perspectives, giving you a new way to look at things. Others were some-what ordinary and made me think to myself about how I could produce something just as "good" if not better. It really is all in the eye of the beholder. I am adding to my Goals in Life to have a gallery of my photographs someday.

The second exhibit was more people-focused and had portraits of people from NYC, Japan, and the USSR in the 60s-70s-80s. They depicted times of disturbance and liberation. Some showed the Japanese in a new light to me- drinking and being sexy and vulgar as it was a time right after a revolution. The NYC pictures were also very in-your-face with most subjects being of the nightlife: women in vulgar poses, transvestites, homosexuals, and the poor. I'm pretty sure I saw one of Mick Jagger too though. The USSR portraits were more somber, serious, and demonstrative of the political and social unrest that was occuring at the time.

All in all, it left me in a pensive mood and further inspired me to continue using photography as my artistic outlet- as a means of documentation of my journeys as well as to show the beauty as I see it in this world. Below is a large, blown-up photo outside the museum that struck me as a moment in time captured perfectly. It's so large that you get lost in it's romantic essence and feel almost transported there among the crowd.

Saturday's Test Shoot

So on Saturday I got asked to do a test shoot because I had the hair length they were looking for. I was totally down to do it and excited for more pictures, though I really had no idea what to expect or what the concept was. I show up to meet the photographer at the train station and from our combined languages I get some idea of the shoot- going for a "bat" look? Only when we arrive at the studio do I see some pictures and realize he meant "bird" hahah. Crow or owl inspired. The team was all very young, artsy, and talented. The girl who did my make-up is only 22!! It was a very artistic collaboration that I was glad to be a part of- can't wait to get this pics this week... in the mean time here's some I snapped myself after the shoot. Obviously they look a little scary without the dramatic lighting effects etc. but I assure you they are going to be some kick ass pictures!This would be so cool for Halloween!

Peek-a-Boo Test

Pictures from the Peek-a-Boo hair salon test shoot are back! Wonder which ones will end up in my book... here's a few to sample. Check out my gallery for more.

Hey homegirl!

This as well is at Shibuya 109. All the girls working in the various boutiques are decked out in the wardrobe from the store and they all look so good- it's quite an effective technique to get you to want to buy the stuff. This particular style I loved because it was one of the few different shops that wasn't all about the cutesy pearls, black, pink, white, ruffled, tweed, stockings, and furry jackets. After so long I was over it. This shop had more of a street style, tom-boy feel with jeans that are actually made to sit below the hips with cute boy briefs showing on top (see human mannequins above). The bright, shiny, puffy jackets and sweaters aren't too baggy so you can still see their cute girlish figure. I love it- thug style catered to girls so it actually looks cute. Oh and don't forget the fresh kicks!

Barbie

I went shopping at Shibuya 109 the other night and it was intense. 8 floors of shopping with mini boutiques on each floor... pretty much the central hub where all the cute, stylish Japanese get their trendy outfits (after about 4 floors, it starts to look the same). Among the many different characters I saw out shopping that night, this one stopped me dead in my tracks and I had to capture this. What caught my eye before anything else was her cell phone that is completely bejeweled even the 3-D Hello Kitty bulging off the top of it. Unfortunately you can't get the full effect as it's obscured by her long nails that are manicured and painted with design and jewels as well. And of course the Barbie tee just completes the look since this is clearly the look she is emulating- a sort of Paris Hilton. What a doll.

Western meets girlie?

This girl looked too cute out in Daikayama (where the roomies and I went shopping last week) I had to snap a pic paparazzi style. I'm getting more comfortable asking to take people's pictures but this was a spur-of-the-moment one. I hope she didn't get too creeped out. She just looks so adorable in her boots and hat, but putting a girlish flair to it with the frilly pink skirt, pink undershirt, and pins on the denim vest! She totally pulls this off.